The approval of MDMA and “magic mushrooms” for certain medical conditions by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has received a mixed response, with Australia’s peak psychiatric body saying further evidence is needed to determine the drugs’ long-term safety and efficacy. From July 1, MDMA (ecstasy) and psilocybin can be prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)…

News Analysis The recent gaffe in which two B.C. companies announced they had licences to sell cocaine brings attention to the plans such companies may be making to commercialize hard drugs on a broad scale. Cannabis company Adastra Labs announced on Feb. 22 that it had received approval from Health Canada “to include cocaine as…

Australia will become the first country to reclassify medicines containing methylenedioxymethamphetamine, more commonly known as MDMA (ecstasy) and psilocybin, to treat certain mental health conditions. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced on Feb. 3 that they will permit authorised psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. MDMA…

A Democratic lawmaker in California introduced a bill Dec. 19 to decriminalize the personal use of plant-based psychedelic drugs—such as magic mushrooms, mescaline, and psilocybin—outside of school grounds for people 21 and up. “Criminalizing drug use and possession accomplishes absolutely nothing other than to fill up our prisons with people who are addicted,” said Sen….

Environmentally damaging levels of illicit drugs have been found in the river running through the Glastonbury Festival site, scientists said. Researchers discovered that during the festival, levels of MDMA and cocaine in the water were so high it could be harming wildlife further downstream, including rare populations of eels. The experts are now urging greenfield…